Cov-idiots: Kilkenny house party busted in Garda clampdown

A house party in county Kilkenny was among those broken up by gardai all across the county that resulted in almost 150 fines being dished out.

It was just one of a cascade of breeches the gardai have had to deal with during the latest lockdown, ranging from  from travel to attending house parties and the unauthorised opening of businesses.

People found attending a house party in Kilkenny over the weekend were among those fined for breaching current restrictions.

Elsewhere, Gardai had to break up house parties in eight other counties – including Dublin, Sligo, Galway, Kildare, Westmeath, Limerick, Cork and Tipperary – over the weekend. Some of the parties had more than 30 people or more in attendance, gardai confirmed.

A Garda spokesperson said: “In excess of 2,100 fines have now been issued for travel without a reasonable excuse during the current lockdown.”

Gardai also confirmed they issued more than 280 fines at Dublin Airport to people for leaving the country for non-essential travel.

They have also attended clamped down of health regulations by licensed premises, restaurants, retail outlets, hair and beauty salons and other business premises.

Gardai said that, “in all instances files will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said: “The vast majority of people continue to comply with the public health regulations.”

“However, some people continue to engage in behaviour that puts themselves, their loved ones, their colleagues and their neighbours at risk of catching Covid-19.

“At this stage, no-one can say they aren’t fully aware of the public health advice and the potential dangers – including death and serious illness – of not following that advice,” Deputy Commissioner Twomey added.